Social sustainability in Brazil: The consequences of Bolsonaro’s Presidential term for the Afro-Brazilian population: Entering the labour market through equal opportunity in education.
This Thesis examines social sustainability in Brazil and the consequences of Jair Bolsonaro’s Presidential term for the Afro-Brazilian population, with focus on the access to the labour market through equal opportunity in education.
Jair Bolsonaro's presidential term in Brazil was characterized by policies that caused a negative impact on minorities, including the Afro-Brazilian population. The Bolsonaro's administration was accused of contributing to the deterioration of social and economic conditions for Afro-Brazilians by promoting racism, discrimination, and social exclusion.
Education has been identified as an essential factor in promoting social sustainability and equal opportunities for all. However, Bolsonaro's government implemented policies that reduced investments in education.
The objective of this thesis was to examine the impact of Bolsonaro’s administration on the development of social sustainability for Afro-Brazilians, focusing on the difficulties this population group has to access quality education and the labour market. The goal was to assess Brazil’s current progress regarding the United Nations fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)4. For this analysis, four interviews with Afro-Brazilian university students were conducted. Some of them benefitted from educational programs during the last four years. In addition, the author conducted one expert interview with Professor, who is Afro-Brazilian. She obtained a PhD at Bahia’s Federal University Post-Graduate Program in Languages and Linguistics. The objective of the interviews was to collect the interviewees' difficulties in accessing education and their fears of entering the labour market.
For this study, Afro-Brazilian students from public universities who studied during Jair Bolsonaro’s government between the age of 25 and 30 years were chosen as the sample population.
Afro-Brazilians are the people who identified as black or brown. The selection procedure for the sample is deliberate. The sample should be composed of Afro- Brazilian females and males. Most participants live in the Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil. The participants contacted the author on a voluntary basis after her research proposal was publicised within the universities.
This Thesis examines social sustainability in Brazil and the consequences of Jair Bolsonaro’s Presidential term for the Afro-Brazilian population, with focus on the access to the labour market through equal opportunity in education.
Jair Bolsonaro's presidential term in Brazil was characterized by policies that caused a negative impact on minorities, including the Afro-Brazilian population. The Bolsonaro's administration was accused of contributing to the deterioration of social and economic conditions for Afro-Brazilians by promoting racism, discrimination, and social exclusion.
Education has been identified as an essential factor in promoting social sustainability and equal opportunities for all. However, Bolsonaro's government implemented policies that reduced investments in education.
The objective of this thesis was to examine the impact of Bolsonaro’s administration on the development of social sustainability for Afro-Brazilians, focusing on the difficulties this population group has to access quality education and the labour market. The goal was to assess Brazil’s current progress regarding the United Nations fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)4. For this analysis, four interviews with Afro-Brazilian university students were conducted. Some of them benefitted from educational programs during the last four years. In addition, the author conducted one expert interview with Professor Dr. Fernanda Mota Pereira, who is Afro-Brazilian. She obtained a PhD at Bahia’s Federal University Post-Graduate Program in Languages and Linguistics. The objective of the interviews was to collect the interviewees' difficulties in accessing education and their fears of entering the labour market.
For this study, Afro-Brazilian students from public universities who studied during Jair Bolsonaro’s government between the age of 25 and 30 years were chosen as the sample population.
Afro-Brazilians are the people who identified as black or brown. The selection procedure for the sample is deliberate. The sample should be composed of Afro- Brazilian females and males. Most participants live in the Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil. The participants contacted the author on a voluntary basis after her research proposal was publicised within the universities.
The author applied the qualitative research method and chose the data collection method of conducting unstructured interviews. For this investigative research technique, the author chose five interview partners total, four students, and one university professor to conduct an expert interview.
In sum, it was confirmed that the Afro-Brazilian population has difficulties when trying to access a quality educational institution. This is due to the low quality of public schools. This includes pre-schools, elementary schools, and high schools.
Unfortunately, children in Brazil do not acquire sufficient basic knowledge in public schools required to take the entrance exam (vestibular) and/or the ENEM to enter a public university.
This is a structural and historical problem that reflects the present social and racial inequalities within Brazilian society. Technically, the access to education to everyone is a right guaranteed by the Brazilian Federal Constitution. This right does not make distinctions of any kind. Yet, reality reveals that there are still many barriers to be overcome.
In general, it was verified that the students do not have fears of entering the job market after attending a university.
But this, as confirmed by an interview with an expert, this can provide the wrong impression. Even if Afro-Brazilians do have access to the job market, they may suffer discrimination from their co-workers and deal with feelings of underestimation.
Most African descendants felt directly or indirectly the impacts of President Jair Bolsanoro's administration on universities. Thus, it is concluded that there was a feeling of total social helplessness.
Equal access to quality education for all, regardless of colour, race, or social origin, can only be guaranteed with the implementation of specific actions and effective public policies. This challenge needs to be faced by the whole society.
In summary, it was confirmed that the Afro-Brazilian population has difficulties when trying to access a quality educational institution. This is due to the low quality of public schools. This includes pre-schools, elementary schools, and high schools.
Unfortunately, children in Brazil do not acquire sufficient basic knowledge in public schools required to take the entrance exam (vestibular) and/or the ENEM to enter a public university.
This is a structural and historical problem that reflects the present social and racial inequalities within Brazilian society. Technically, the access to education to everyone is a right guaranteed by the Brazilian Federal Constitution. This right does not make distinctions of any kind. Yet, reality reveals that there are still many barriers to be overcome.
In general, it was verified that the students do not have fears of entering the job market after attending a university.
But this, as confirmed by an interview with an expert, this can provide the wrong impression. Even if Afro-Brazilians do have access to the job market, they may suffer discrimination from their co-workers and deal with feelings of underestimation.
Most African descendants felt directly or indirectly the impacts of President Jair Bolsanoro's administration on universities. Thus, it is concluded that there was a feeling of total social helplessness.
Equal access to quality education for all, regardless of colour, race, or social origin, can only be guaranteed with the implementation of specific actions and effective public policies. This challenge needs to be faced by the whole society.